Summer holidays

Summer holidays seem a long time in coming this year, and yet they also caught me by surprise. All those things to be completed by the time the holidays began are now sitting, neglected, and shall most possibly remain so until September. Because I have more fun things to occupy my time... so far these have included treaty cake and coffee time with P (gosh we have actually managed a few of these, which is pretty impressive as we are still only in the first week of holidays) a sail on the river in a friend's boat, some quiet reading times, hexbug constructing, rainy and windswept walks, board game playing including a lengthy Monopoly, and film watching - we went with a friend to watch Inside Out this morn. Patch and friend said they enjoyed watching it, and certainly sat glued throughout. Often this type of film have bits dotted here and there for adult entertainment though this film possibly had a whole theme running throughout for adults to weep at and fondly reminisce, which I'm not sure Patch fully appreciciated. Anyway, a fun way to spend another rainy and windy morning. Reading how we have spent this first week seems more appropriate for an autumn half term rather than summer holiday activity. Oh well, it has done us good to have these gentle days.

One thing I did manage before the end of term was some end of term makes... this year it was more of the foldover clutches for all. Firstly more inspired by skirt as top's foldover doily clutch tutorial with you & mie's leatherette accent

 All fabrics from the piles - and this is the end of the leatherette so must find more. The barkcloth clutch is one for me, made from a treasured small piece of barkcloth. I decided to use coloured plastic zips on some rather than metal zips as the only jeans zips I could find locally came in navy. I do prefer the look of a metal zip...

And then a very simple foldover clutch, very much inspired by a pattern in issue 13 of love sewing magazine, named the foldover hexie clutch. Certainly want to make myself one with Liberty hexies, but for this one yet more fabric from the piles and a vintage mustard button. I liked the idea of yellow top stitching too, but so wish I had hidden those pesky extra stitches at the side. 

Which reminds me, I have a much used version of the one above which I made for me as an absolute necessity with a new bag. No photograph of that one yet, so I shall have to dedicate another post to yet another foldover clutch. And I found a piece of cannot resist barkcloth during a pop to fabric rehab this week, so there shall be even more. 

Oh, and not all the lovely staff in Patch's class received one of these - not sure Dan would appreciate a clutch so we made a huge pile of rocky road. Yum. Your delightful gift of veggie marshmallows have been put to delicious use, Linda and Ems. I may just have to make another pile for your next visit

A Purl Bee gathered skirt

I was so excited to sew this new pattern from Purl Bee... in fact the very day that I first saw the pattern I went and purchased intended fabric. Sadly that fabric has been added to the pile. Washed and ready, but not yet used. And possibly won't be for this skirt. This is the gathered skirt for all ages - so summery! Sensibly I made a test skirt first which is still unfinished as it is looking rather unflattering. Maybe something miraculous will happen in the finishing steps, but I'm not sure I have found my go-to easy adult skirt. Anyway, more of that another time (when you may, or may not, get to see the finished make) and this pattern is certainly a nice addition to the sweet girl's skirts list

 All that gathering... sweet for a girl, maybe not so for an adult. It is the construction of the pockets that make this skirt so lovely, though I think I prefer a simple elasticated waistband rather than the separate waistband in this pattern. Maybe next time I could combine a lazy days and these pockets - it would mean adding side panels to a simply gathered skirt but it could be done. Because it would be worth it for those pockets

Oh, and another thing is that Molly's Mummy mentioned that this skirt is a bit short, so it may be worth adding an inch or two if you too prefer your little girl in a longer style.

Pockets just had to be some of Lizzy House's cattitude (purchased from eternal maker last year, sadly no longer in stock) for the cat loving Molly, and happily for me using something from the pile. But of course nothing suitable to go with, so a trip to fabric rehab resulted in this gloriously ditsy fabric... which I can no longer remember the name of and it doesn't appear to be on their website... OK, stopped this laziness and have retrieved fabric from the threatening to topple pile, and I believe it is Sevenberry's ditsy on white.  Ditsy florals and kits... perfect. Happy birthday, Molly!

The second foldover clutch

 Just as the first one (see here) though this time not so nice fake leather purchased locally - I really do need to find a better supplier of this - and zipper tabs made from bias binding which was easier. Still satisfying to make, which is good as I have another one to show you and then four more planned for those teacher presents, which I really must make a start on...

A quick post today as still somehow catching up from the week spent tending a poorly P when nothing more than administering Mummy cuddles seemed to happen.

Some birthday tees

Simple makes to show this week... not that any of these were actually made this week. It has been that sort of a week. Monday started well with a happy-to-do unpacking following a lovely weekend in London and then a trip to watch The Minions after school - Mr R couldn't wait til this weekend. And Tuesday lovely - iced coffee in the sun with a friend catching up with her makes, and there was also some wool buying for what I hope will be a rather special present. And then the call from school to say could we come and collect P. He had been crying into his three bean curry at lunchtime and they knew something was amiss as that is one of the menu highlights. And so on the hottest days of the year P was poorly. And that has been my week.

The garden showed no compassion for those of us inside and so today is desperately in need of my attention. So a quick post today...

Happy birthday Dan, Elia, Fred and Digby! Right, off to attend those poor plants